2010 court lineup includes murder suspects

Published: Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 11:26 p.m.

HOUMA — A 22-year-old alleged murderer who could face the death penalty is scheduled to stand trial this year.

He's among those accused of 2009's most violent crimes.

In another murder case, prosecutors must still decide whether to seek the death penalty against a Chauvin man accused of beating and smothering his girlfriend's 10-month-old son.

The cases represent a few of those on the 2010 court docket.

DOUBLE HOMICIDE

A tentative trial date of Jan. 10 has been set for Jacobby Lee, 22, of Houma, accused of killing two men in one shooting and, days later, gunning down a woman inside her Dunn Street home.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Lee, who was also charged in a car theft and purse snatching last year.

Lee entered the Dunn Street home of Gail Collins, 53, the night of July 30 and argued with her teenage son, Sean, police said. Lee shot the woman in the head as she watched television, then fired at her son as he escaped through a window, police said.

Officers allegedly found him hiding beneath a Columbus Street house that evening.

Houma Police detectives later connected him to the slayings of Michael Hebert, 33, of Houma, and his cousin Michael Herbert, 25, of Belle Rose. Both were found dead July 28 inside a Clay Street apartment. Each had been shot once.

In September, Lee was indicted on two counts each of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree murder.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His trial is set for Jan. 10, but Terrebonne Parish's chief public defender, Tony Champagne, said he expects it to be rescheduled.

BATTERED BABY

Prosecutors are still deciding whether to seek the death penalty against William Henderson, 23, of Chauvin, who is accused of killing a baby.

Police said Henderson broke the arms of 10-month-old Kaleb Nelton, his girlfriend's child, them smothered him when he would not stop crying. He was arrested in October.

First Assistant District Attorney Carlos Lazarus said he must review the baby's autopsy to determine the extent of force and injuries allegedly caused by Henderson.

Those details could help determine if prosecutors seek the death penalty, he said. Input from the baby's family will also factor into the decision.

OFFICERS SHOT

Before a case against a teenager accused of shooting a Terrebonne Sheriff's deputy can continue, doctors must decide whether he is mentally capable of participating in his defense or comprehending proceedings.

Police have said Broussard fired five times, hitting Bourg three times during a confrontation near the Montegut Post Office. He was arrested following a 12-hour search. Broussard also faces theft and criminal damage charges.

Broussard has a history of suicide attempts and bouts with depression and bipolar disorder, Mustin's written request says. The teenager “was prone to such irrational behavior as picking at his skin until sores were made, pulling his hair out, banging his head against the wall and shooting himself in the hand with a BB gun.”

His mental-health history prior to 2003 is unavailable, Mustin says. The information in the request came from medical records, conversations with his mother and interviews with Broussard.

Mustin writes there is reason to believe Broussard was not taking prescribed medicine at the time of the alleged crimes “which leads our office to believe that his mental diseases were going unchecked and unregulated.”

A second man accused of shooting a Houma Police officer has pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted first-degree murder and is scheduled to stand trial in April, court officials said.

Wendell Matthews, 25, of Chauvin, allegedly led officers on a miles-long chase Nov. 4, starting in Houma and ending in Smithridge. After bailing out the car, he allegedly grappled with two officers, shooting one, officer Kelly Champagne, in the chest and grazing an elbow.

The chest shot was blocked by Champagne's protective vest, police said. The officer returned the shots, hitting Matthews in the knee, thigh and shoulder.

Matthews was released from a New Orleans hospital after two weeks of treatment. Besides the attempted-murder charge, he was also booked with illegal possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

It's still unclear why Matthews fled from police.

Each of the defendants could avoid trial by pleading guilty. Jurors could also find any of them not guilty or choose to convict them of a less-severe crime.

Staff Writer Matthew Pleasant can be reached at 857-2202 or matthew.pleasant@houmatoday.com.

<p>HOUMA — A 22-year-old alleged murderer who could face the death penalty is scheduled to stand trial this year. </p><p>He's among those accused of 2009's most violent crimes.</p><p>In another murder case, prosecutors must still decide whether to seek the death penalty against a Chauvin man accused of beating and smothering his girlfriend's 10-month-old son.</p><p>The cases represent a few of those on the 2010 court docket.</p><h3>DOUBLE HOMICIDE</h3>
<p>A tentative trial date of Jan. 10 has been set for Jacobby Lee, 22, of Houma, accused of killing two men in one shooting and, days later, gunning down a woman inside her Dunn Street home.</p><p>Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Lee, who was also charged in a car theft and purse snatching last year.</p><p>Lee entered the Dunn Street home of Gail Collins, 53, the night of July 30 and argued with her teenage son, Sean, police said. Lee shot the woman in the head as she watched television, then fired at her son as he escaped through a window, police said.</p><p>Officers allegedly found him hiding beneath a Columbus Street house that evening.</p><p>Houma Police detectives later connected him to the slayings of Michael Hebert, 33, of Houma, and his cousin Michael Herbert, 25, of Belle Rose. Both were found dead July 28 inside a Clay Street apartment. Each had been shot once.</p><p>In September, Lee was indicted on two counts each of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree murder. </p><p>He pleaded not guilty to the charges.</p><p>His trial is set for Jan. 10, but Terrebonne Parish's chief public defender, Tony Champagne, said he expects it to be rescheduled.</p><h3>BATTERED BABY</h3>
<p>Prosecutors are still deciding whether to seek the death penalty against William Henderson, 23, of Chauvin, who is accused of killing a baby.</p><p>Police said Henderson broke the arms of 10-month-old Kaleb Nelton, his girlfriend's child, them smothered him when he would not stop crying. He was arrested in October.</p><p>First Assistant District Attorney Carlos Lazarus said he must review the baby's autopsy to determine the extent of force and injuries allegedly caused by Henderson.</p><p>Those details could help determine if prosecutors seek the death penalty, he said. Input from the baby's family will also factor into the decision.</p><h3>OFFICERS SHOT</h3>
<p>Before a case against a teenager accused of shooting a Terrebonne Sheriff's deputy can continue, doctors must decide whether he is mentally capable of participating in his defense or comprehending proceedings.</p><p>Adrian Broussard, 18, of Bourg, is charged with attempted first-degree murder for allegedly shooting deputy Donald Bourg, 36, of Houma, in July.</p><p>Police have said Broussard fired five times, hitting Bourg three times during a confrontation near the Montegut Post Office. He was arrested following a 12-hour search. Broussard also faces theft and criminal damage charges.</p><p>In December, Broussard's court-appointed attorney, Amanda Mustin, asked District Judge Timothy Ellender to allow a sanity commission to evaluate Broussard.</p><p>Broussard has a history of suicide attempts and bouts with depression and bipolar disorder, Mustin's written request says. The teenager “was prone to such irrational behavior as picking at his skin until sores were made, pulling his hair out, banging his head against the wall and shooting himself in the hand with a BB gun.”</p><p>His mental-health history prior to 2003 is unavailable, Mustin says. The information in the request came from medical records, conversations with his mother and interviews with Broussard.</p><p>Mustin writes there is reason to believe Broussard was not taking prescribed medicine at the time of the alleged crimes “which leads our office to believe that his mental diseases were going unchecked and unregulated.”</p><p>A second man accused of shooting a Houma Police officer has pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted first-degree murder and is scheduled to stand trial in April, court officials said.</p><p>Wendell Matthews, 25, of Chauvin, allegedly led officers on a miles-long chase Nov. 4, starting in Houma and ending in Smithridge. After bailing out the car, he allegedly grappled with two officers, shooting one, officer Kelly Champagne, in the chest and grazing an elbow.</p><p>The chest shot was blocked by Champagne's protective vest, police said. The officer returned the shots, hitting Matthews in the knee, thigh and shoulder.</p><p>Matthews was released from a New Orleans hospital after two weeks of treatment. Besides the attempted-murder charge, he was also booked with illegal possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.</p><p>It's still unclear why Matthews fled from police.</p><p>Each of the defendants could avoid trial by pleading guilty. Jurors could also find any of them not guilty or choose to convict them of a less-severe crime.</p><p>Staff Writer Matthew Pleasant can be reached at 857-2202 or matthew.pleasant@houmatoday.com.</p>